Grand River to test new form of X-ray imaging

KITCHENER, Ont. – Grand River Hospital (GRH) and KA Imaging are partnering on an innovative commercialization project supported by the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network. Looking to transform existing hospital X-ray technology, GRH is adding a device that is designed to produce higher-resolution images for improved patient monitoring and faster, more accurate diagnosis to its intensive care unit (ICU).

The Reveal 35C created by KA Imaging, is a single-exposure, portable, digital dual-energy subtraction X-ray detector. The technology produces images that separate soft tissue and bones and are much higher resolution creating images that are easier to read. It also uses the same radiation dose as a traditional X-ray to create three different images without blurring or streaking due to patient movement.

“Dual energy x-ray technology has been around for years, but it’s the first time we can really benefit from it,” said Carla Girolametto (pictured), director of innovation and research at GRH. According to Girolametto, older versions of the technology are very limited, as they need dedicated rooms, require more radiation than traditional X-ray and can have image quality issues.

The high cost of implementation also prevents adoption. KA Imaging’s device, on the other hand, solves these problems and can be retrofitted onto existing x-ray machines, including portable machines.

“This means that hospitals can upgrade existing X-ray units to create images that are close to CT image quality without significantly increasing the radiation dose – compared to traditional X-ray – while using the units they already have,” said Girolametto.

KA Imaging’s Reveal 35C has been installed on one of Grand River Hospital’s portable X-ray machines and will help clinicians validate patient tube and line placements as well as monitor the health of patients to prevent respiratory conditions. Success metrics that will be measured during this project in GRH’s real-time environment include image quality, impact on work processes, and the need for more images given the high quality of images the Reveal 35C can produce.

“My team and I in the ICU are excited to put to use a novel method of analyzing the information in a relatively routine tool, the chest X-ray,” said Dr. Paul Hosek, staff intensivist at Grand River Hospital. “We hope this provides additional necessary bedside information that we can put to use saving lives.”

“This is an exciting project and we are pleased to partner with Grand River Hospital to support innovation that will improve patient care and outcomes,” said Amol Karnick, president and CEO of KA Imaging. “This is a great opportunity for Grand River Hospital and KA Imaging to be a showcase for Canadian hospitals, especially the ones that are overburdened and feeling the pressure in their emergency rooms and ICUs.”

This project is made possible by the CAN Health Network, a nationwide network of hospitals and other healthcare institutions known as “Edges”. This federally funded initiative provides Canadian companies with access to real healthcare environments in which they can implement their market-ready solutions, gain valuable feedback from end-users, and scale rapidly across the Network and beyond.

“These partnerships are helping to promote and accelerate the adoption of home-grown solutions in healthcare,” said Dr. Dante Morra, chair of the CAN Health Network. “We are pleased to work with leading organizations like Grand River Hospital and KA Imaging who are validating Canadian technologies and creating new, streamlined paths for scaling that benefit all Canadians.”

About Grand River Hospital
Grand River Hospital is one of Ontario’s largest community hospitals with an outstanding team of 5,000 dedicated health care workers and volunteers. We provide services and support to more than 840,000 residents at our two campuses and satellite locations in Waterloo Region and Guelph Wellington. We take pride in the ways we collaborate with our health system partners, our region’s academic and innovation communities, and diverse community stakeholders as we work toward providing a world class experience for patients, families and team members. Our programs include cancer and renal (kidney) services; care for the most seriously ill and injured adults; services for mothers, newborns and children; emergency care; mental health and addictions; and care for older adults including rehabilitation. Learn more about our programs here.

About the CAN Health Network
The CAN Health Network is a Canada-first approach to technology adoption. It helps break down barriers to scaling in the healthcare system and provides an environment for companies to scale to their full potential. Currently operating in Ontario, Western and Atlantic Canada, the CAN Health Network was recently awarded $30 million by the Government of Canada as part of Budget 2022 to expand into Quebec, the Territories and with Indigenous Communities. Learn more about the CAN Health Network at www.canhealthnetwork.ca.

About KA Imaging
A spin-off from the University of Waterloo, KA Imaging specializes in developing innovative X-ray imaging technologies and systems, providing solutions to the medical, veterinary, and non-destructive test industrial markets. Reveal 35C is a single exposure, portable, digital dual-energy subtraction (DES) X-ray detector. Powered by its exclusive SpectralDR technology, it uses the same radiation dose as a traditional X-ray to create 3 different images without motion artifacts. In medical applications, this means a regular DR, plus a soft tissue and bone images.